When Levi & Ramona Willits told us they were coming to visit us in Malaysia, they said, "Feel free to book some hotels, and we'll pay!" So, when Nancy asked someone at ISKL where she should take her father in Penang, the reply was, "By all means: the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Georgetown!" So, we booked it in advance and spent four wonderful nights there with Levi & Ramona, Doug, Gabi and Rania.
The "E&O," built in 1884 and completely refurbished and re-opened in 2001, is recommended by The Lonely Planet as "our pick." They say, "Undoubtedly Penang's grandest hotel ... The spacious suites are elegantly furnished in colonial style ... The pith-helmeted, short-trousered porters may be a touch over the top, though." Anyway, we loved it! Elegant buffet breakfasts were included, and each room had a "butler call button" with the promise that at any hour day or night our needs would be responded-to. The pool was delightful, and the hotel was within easy walking distance of many of the sites we explored in Georgetown.
We did drive to see the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia (Kek Lok Si Temple) and spent some time at a north coast beach so that the girls could at least get their feet in the water (a drop-off was just a few feet from the edge). En route to Georgetown we visited a very nice zoo in Taiping and in Georgetown, a butterfly park as well. The drive home in the two cars was safe and uneventful, taking about five hours. - rw
No comments:
Post a Comment